Electronics Engineer

California Institute of Technology; Big Pine (CA); Presencial; USD 90 000 - 150 000; Tempo integral

Resumo da oferta

California Institute of Technology's Owens Valley Radio Observatory seeks an electronics engineer to develop an instrument for fast radio burst detection in the microwave domain, using repurposed 3.5 m antennas. The PI team includes Cornell University, the University of Chicago, and Caltech, offering opportunities for growth.

You will review antennas, drives, electronics, receivers, software and infrastructure, plan implementation, and work with other staff to execute the upgrade.

Responsabilidades

• Detailed planning of tasks
• Building up test setups as required
• Evaluating the current state of the instrument
• Testing and refurbishing or replacing cryogenic systems for the receivers
• Testing receiver and ancillary electronics and repairing or replacing
• Testing drive system interlocks and emergency switches
• Evaluating and repairing cooling systems for antenna electronics
• Supervising installation of power and fiber to antennas

Conhecimentos

Electrical engineering

RF instrumentation

Cryogenic systems

Instrumentation commissioning

On-site work

Descrição da oferta de emprego

Caltech is a world-renowned science and engineering institute that marshals some of the world's brightest minds and most innovative tools to address fundamental scientific questions. We thrive on finding and cultivating talented people who are passionate about what they do. Join us and be a part of the diverse Caltech community.

The Owens Valley Radio Observatory (OVRO) is one of the largest and most advanced university-operated radio observatories in the world. Managed by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), OVRO serves as a premier research hub dedicated to pushing the boundaries of radio astronomy and astrophysics.

Job Summary

We are seeking an electronics engineer for OVRO to develop an instrument for fast radio burst (FRB) detection in the microwave domain. This instrument will utilize existing 3.5-m-diameter antennas that will be repurposed and upgraded to open up a new frequency window for FRB science. The project principal investigators (PIs) and co-PIs are based at Cornell University, the University of Chicago, and Caltech. This position is an opportunity to be part of a diverse team working on leading astronomical instrumentation with prospects of increasing seniority at the observatory.

Under the guidance of senior staff, the selected candidate will review the status of the antennas, including the drives, electronics, receivers, software, and infrastructure, and prepare a plan to implement and commission an operating instrument. They will be responsible for executing the plan with the assistance of other staff as necessary. The goal is to repurpose existing antennas along with new specialized hardware to extend the observing range for fast time-domain astronomy. The development will be in close collaboration with other partners who will provide antenna control software and digital acquisition and processing hardware. The selected candidate will report directly to the Site Director as well as being responsive to the goals of the PI. As part of the OVRO staff, they will work with other engineers and technicians and may be called on to contribute to other projects. In the future, the scope of work will transition over to other projects that the observatory will be developing. The position will be conducted in-person and on-site at the OVRO near Big Pine, California.

For more information about the position, please contact the hiring manager and OVRO Site Director, James Lamb, [e-mail].

Essential Job Duties

• Detailed planning of tasks
• Building up test setups as required
• Evaluating the current state of the instrument
• Testing and refurbishing or replacing cryogenic systems for the receivers
• Testing receiver and ancillary electronics and repairing or replacing
• Testing drive system interlocks and emergency switches
• Evaluating and repairing cooling systems for antenna electronics
• Supervising installation of power and fiber to antennas